Family BackgroundRev. Mark D. Wiesner was born in St. Louis, Missouri. His father was a Lutheran educator, and ended up joining the Seminary at the same time that Pastor Mark attended. Because of his father’s delayed vicarage, Pastor Mark was ordained a year before his father, and was privileged to participate in the ordination of his father! Pastor Mark has one sister, who also resides in St. Louis.

Academic BackgroundRev. Wiesner has a Bachelor’s degree from Concordia College; Ann Arbor, Michigan. His major was religion; and he had a double minor in Humanities, and in Psychology/Sociology. Rev. Wiesner has two Masters degrees. The first is a Master of Divinity degree obtained from Concordia Seminary; St. Louis, Missouri. The second is a Master of Science degree, in the area of Marriage & Family Therapy, obtained from Friends University; Wichita, Kansas. Rev. Wiesner is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in the state of Illinois. He is also a Clinical Member of the American Association of Marriage & Family Therapy (AAMFT).

Professional BackgroundRev. Wiesner’s first divine call was to serve as Assistant Pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church of Waconia, Minnesota where his primary duties included youth, evangelism, and teaching 7th grade confirmation in the church’s elementary school. He also enjoyed being in a number of community musicals, serving as a volunteer hospital chaplain, serving as a member of the County Chemical Dependency Advisory Board, and also serving as a member of the Drug Free Schools Advisory Committee.

Rev. Wiesner then accepted a call to Christ the King Lutheran Church of Salina, Kansas where he served as the sole pastor of a rapidly growing congregation. It was also while he was in Kansas, that Rev. Wiesner acquired his second Master’s degree. His ministry was further enhanced through his work as a disc jockey at a local Christian radio station. Rev. Wiesner also found and lead a contemporary Christian band by the name of Martyrs.

Rev. Wiesner than accepted a call to Belleville, Illinois. Lutheran Child & Family Services, in a joint venture with the Southern Illinois District of the LCMS, called Rev. Wiesner to the position of Ministerial Health Specialist. His time was spent providing counseling services and serving as LCFS’s Family Life Education Coordinator. Rev. Wiesner also served as Health Advocate for the Southern Illinois District, and was a member of the District’s Ministerial Health Committee.

Eventually, Rev. Wiesner left LCFS to begin his private practice, offering Christian counseling services in O’Fallon, Illinois. In addition, he served as Interim pastor for several congregations in the Southern Illinois district. One year later, Rev. Wiesner accepted the position of Staff Chaplain at Lutheran Hour Ministries, while continuing to provide counseling services at his private practice. He also served as Pastoral Assistant at Signal Hill Lutheran Church of Belleville, Illinois. Rev. Wiesner has performed in several community musicals with his oldest daughter.

On October 1, 2006, Rev. Wiesner was installed as pastor of Signal Hill Lutheran Church.

PersonalRev. Wiesner is married. His wife, Patricia, is a Physical Therapist and works with infants/children that are developmentally disabled. They have two daughters.

Family BackgroundRev. Jonathan A. Hemler was born in Ft. Wayne, Indiana. Due to his father’s profession as a Lutheran grade school principal, Pastor Jon moved to different locations while growing up, including St. Louis, Missouri and Sheboygan, Wisconsin. Pastor Jon’s family is full of church workers, with a mother and two sisters who are or have been Lutheran school teachers. Pastor Jon’s father passed away in 2011, while his mother and sisters currently live in St. Louis.

Academic BackgroundRev. Hemler has a Bachelors’ degree from Concordia University, Chicago, Illinois. His major was elementary education, with a specialization in biblical languages. Rev. Hemler has a Master of Divinity degree from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, Missouri.

Professional BackgroundBefore attending the seminary, Pastor Jon worked in the area of social service. He served developmentally disabled gentlemen, as well as residents at the Jewish Center for the Aged in St. Louis. After graduating from the seminary in 2012, Pastor Jon accepted a call to serve as assistant pastor at Signal Hill Lutheran Church.

PersonalRev. Hemler is married to Kathleen, a veterinarian serving in Kirkwood, Missouri. They have a daughter and a son.